The Dragon's Kiss

Chapter 8 - Homesick

Haco dragged Ashley down the stairs by her arm, as she thrashed and struggled to get free of his hold. It made no difference to him; he completely ignored her cries and her curses, staring straight onwards. She even tried to bite his hand, but all he did was shoot her a look, continuing to pull her away.

"Let go!" she yelled, before letting out a loud, ear-piercing scream. 

He flinched, finally stopping at the ground, before the grove of trees. She managed to yank her arm out of his hold, and shuffled away from him, staring at him incredulously.

"What is wrong with you people?" she cried breathlessly, angrily wiping away the tear that had left her eye.

"I am doing this for your own good, Ashley. There is no other way to keep you ali--"

"Bullshit!" she cut him off, glaring at him. "You are doing this only to save your own ass. So your people don't realize what an i***t you are."

Haco clenched his jaw, stepping closer to her. "You think if we tell them the truth, they're gonna spare you?" he scoffed. "They will still kill you, Ashley, and along with you, me too. They need to think you're part of the plan if you want to survive."

"So you send me into a castle full of blood-thirsty monsters?" she retorted. "One of the dracones already saw me with you. Whatever cover you're planning to give me, it's already blown."

Haco ran a hand through his hair, looking away from her. "I know," he said softly, gulping. "We'll figure something out. That dracone isn't a part of the royal family, or the nobles. She also isn't a top army official. So before you come across her, you have to make sure the royals trust you."

Ashley let out a chuckle, shaking her head. "You're impossible. This whole thing, it's impossible, Haco. Why don't you accept it? You are sending me straight to my death," she accused.

"I can't!" he yelled, closing the space between them. He grabbed her arms in an iron hold, making her flinch. "I cannot accept that my error will cost an innocent life," he said through gritted teeth, a deep frown on his face. Ashley stared up at him with wide eyes, her breath hitching. "I cannot accept that you could die here, because of me," he added softly, gulping. It was obvious he was torn. Almost as torn as herself. 

Ashley lowered her gaze, letting out a shuddering breath. 

He let go of her arms, and stepped back, taking a deep breath. "Which is why," he cleared his throat, "I am going to do as much as I can to protect you. You have my word, Ashley. If I am with you, I won't let any harm come to you."

"Except your word doesn't mean anything," she replied dejectedly. "It won't come to pull me out of the clutches of a fire-breathing killer."

"I know." His voice was soft, his tone fatigued. "For now, let's just go home. We'll figure something out."

"Home." Ashley let out a humorless chuckle. "Where is that? In Lyrous?"

"My home," Haco clarified, his eyes downcast. "I'll make sure you're comfortable."

"I can't be comfortable with you around."

"Forgive me, but you have no other choice. It's my home, or the forest."

"I pick the forest."

Haco sighed. "Let's just get back to town first." He offered her his hand.

She glanced at it, before shifting her gaze to the sky. The blue moon was almost gone by now, replaced with the faint rays of sunlight scattered all around the purple morning sky, seeping through the swirls of white. She closed her eyes and let out a sigh, enjoying the gentle warmth on her skin. Her nerves relaxed slightly, owing to the similarity of the dawn sky of Lyrous, to that of Earth's. "I miss home," she said softly, vulnerability in her voice. "I miss my sister."

"I thought you wanted her gone."

"I lied. I could never want her gone."

"Forgive me for separating you from her. If we get our hands on Divignus, I promise you, I will return you home."

"You mean if I get my hands on Divignus," she corrected, opening her eyes. 

"Well, yeah."

"Then it's not gonna happen, because I'll be dead the moment I step inside that Palace."

"You won't, Ash," Haco reassured, stepping closer to her. "I'll train you well. If you just--"

"Never mind," she said softly, lowering her gaze. "I want to rest, Haco. I'm very tired." A lump was forming in her throat, but she swallowed it. 

"Okay, alright."

The journey back was awfully silent. Both of them were lost deep in their thoughts, and none of them made any effort to make conversation. Haco stole glances at her every once in a while, but she kept her gaze fixed on the ground. Ashley followed him wherever he went, not bothering to ask any questions. She did not care anymore, too exhausted to fight or even argue. All she wanted was to throw herself in bed, and allow her tears to fall. Maybe even let them drown herself to sleep. Maybe, just maybe, when she'd wake up again, she'd be back in her own plain bed, next to her sister's, with her father's voice echoing off the walls, asking her to come down for breakfast. The house would smell of fresh, hot pancakes made lovingly by her mother, and as she'd descend the staircase, her ears would be blessed with her sister's excited giggles as she'd tell their mother about her new class project. 

Maybe, just maybe, all of Lyrous would turn out to be a dreadful nightmare, her own mind getting back at her for the years she spent plaguing it with the darkest thoughts and worries. Or maybe, she was already dead when she went through that vortex, and Lyrous were her own, personal hell. 

At that point, anything felt possible.

"How far?" she finally spoke up, not wanting to think any longer. Her legs were aching with exertion, her mind racing with a thousands doubts and questions.

"Just a bit," Haco replied, turning to her. They were passing between two rows of trees, on a cool gravel path. "My house is just around that corner. But if you want, we can stop to rest," he offered.

"I don't think I can rest here," Ashley muttered, looking around. "This place is creepy."

"It's quiet," Haco said in agreement. "But it's peaceful."

"I left my peace back at the concert you kidnapped me from," she replied.

Haco turned back around, not knowing what to say to her. He started walking again, and she dragged herself behind him, barely even picking up her feet anymore. Finally, they stopped in front of a small cottage, made out of white wood and stone. It had a triangular roof, with a cute little chimney sprouting out of it. Ashley looked at Haco, then the cottage, and back at him.

"You live here?"

"Sometimes. Mostly I'm out hunting or training, usually with Migara. At times I sleep in her quarters, but when I don't, this is where I sleep. I know it's not much, but it's still home." He had a certain admiration in his eyes as he stared at it, and Ashley could instantly tell the cottage was a nostalgic place for him, furnished with years of fond memories. 

"It's cute," she commented, offering him a small smile.

He smiled back at her, before gesturing for her to walk in. "After you."

She climbed up the two wooden stairs, and pushed the door. It swung open with a creak, and Ashley stepped inside, instantly feeling welcome. It was small, with a single square room, a small fireplace in one corner and a makeshift bed in another. There was also what looked like a stone table, with a quill and and a paper resting atop it. A painting hung on the wall behind the bed, of a beautiful woman dressed in a pink, flowing gown. The walls were higher than she had expected, but still low enough to maintain the coziness of the eerily warm air inside. 

She sensed Haco step behind her, and she moved forward, turning around to face him. 

"I hope you don't hate it," he said. "If there's anything you need, you can tell me."

Ashley did not reply, walking over to the bed, her gaze fixed on the painting. Upon closer inspection, she realized the dress looked a lot like the one she wore, and she frowned, turning to Haco. "Who is this?"

His face fell slightly, as he looked away. "That was my mother," he replied, a certain sadness to his voice. 

"Is this hers?" she gestured to her gown.

He nodded.

"Thank you, for letting me wear it," she muttered, a small frown on her face. She could not guess how he felt, having never known her real parents. But after being so pampered by Mrs. Parker, she had an idea of how important a mother is, and the significance of the role she plays in a child's life. If Haco had lost her, it must have caused him a lost of pain.

"It's okay." He shook his head, forcing a smile. "It was only catching dust, so it's good it could be of use." 

"It's still your mother's dress," she pointed out. "I understand you must be attached to it. If you have anything else, I'll be happy to change."

"You don't have to."

"I'd prefer to. I don't want to be a walking reminder of her to you. Besides, I think I may have made it dirty."

Haco nodded in understanding. "I'll ask Migara to lend you one of her dresses. Until then, you'll have to do with it."

"Uh, I'd prefer if she lends me a tunic, like the one she wears. I'm not really a fan of dresses."

He frowned. "A tunic? You mean her conves? Like this one?" He pointed at his own.

"Yes." she nodded. "The... conves. And a jacket too."

"A conves and a coat, alright. Then you'll also be needing a couple of her skirts and boots, I believe," he replied.

She recalled Migara's outfit. In spite of wearing a mini-skirt, her boots had concealed most of her legs, allowing barely a mere strip of her skin to be seen. That sounded good enough, given the kind of place they were in. It was practically a jungle, and Ashley did not want to be bitten by bugs all over. "Yeah, the boots will be great."

""I'll send word. For now, I think you should get some rest. We have a long day ahead of us," Haco stated, placing down his sword by the door.

"I'll be needing a bath too." Ashley bit her lip. "Once I wake up."

"Of course," he replied. "I'll make arrangements. Take a nap for now."

Ashley wordlessly sat down on the bed, ignoring the way her stomach twisted. She did not care how uncomfortable the bed was, nor did she care about the place she was in. She had spent nights sleeping in places far worse than a homely cottage. And yet, she had survived. But even despite being an orphan girl, she had never felt so alone before. 

Ashley placed her head on what looked like a pillow, but felt nothing like it. Tears pricked her vision as she missed home, but most of all, she missed Liana. Her sister, who had been by her side for as long as she could remember, the only person who had protected her from the horrors of the world. They had been found together on the verge of their deaths at the bottom of a waterfall, when an unkind man had pulled them to safety. He had taken them in and nursed them back to health, only to emotionally torture them for the next few years. He made them beg on the streets of the city along with other girls their age, subjected them to abuse, humiliation, as well as occasional harassment. 

Ashley closed her eyes, letting the tears roll down her cheeks and wet the pillow. That was the only thing that had felt familiar to her in the last two days. Everything else was just too foreign.

She did not realize when her eyes had started to droop shut, and before she knew it, sleep had taken over her, finally shutting down her feverish brain and calming down her racing heart. 

- - - - 

Ashley woke up to the feeling of something wet and slimy gliding over her face. Her eyes shot open, and she let out a small scream, shuffling away from the animal's huge tongue. She heaved a sigh of relief when she saw Valak, watching her with excitement in his emerald eyes. He wagged his tail like a dog, and once he was sure she was awake, he simply trotted out of the cottage. 

Ashley rubbed the drowsiness away from her eyes, and moved to the edge of the bed, straightening out her gown. She pushed off her shoes, wincing in pain as she traced her hand over the mild blisters on her toes. 

"Hey." His voice startled her, as she quickly lowered her feet to the ground. 

"Hi." She glanced at him. 

"What happened?" He walked over to her and knelt down, taking her foot without a warning. She jumped slightly, feeling uncomfortable as he examined her toes, his fingers gently wrapped around her ankle. He clicked his tongue, looking up at her. "Does it hurt?" he asked.

"A little," she replied honestly. 

"The water will fix this," Haco replied, standing up. "Can you walk? I can carry you to the pond if you want," he offered.

Her heart skipped a beat. "There's no need," she said quickly, standing up. "I'm fine. I do need a bath, though."

"Sure. I heated up the water for you. The warmth will soothe all your pains," he said softly.

"Not all," she mumbled. "Anyway, let's go. There's no time to waste, is there?"

"After you," he gestured towards the door.

She walked out, immediately greeted by the fresh, afternoon sunlight and the scent of blooming daisies. She descended the stairs, smiling when she spotted Valak pouncing around, trying to catch a tiny blue spot of light.

"What's that?" she asked, turning her head to glance at Haco.

"A skydrop. It's like a smaller butterfly, but it glows," he explained.

"You guys also call them butterflies? I thought you had different names for every creature."

"We actually don't." Haco smiled, walking down the stairs and stopping beside her. "We call them flower-birds, but I said butterfly so you'd know what I mean."

Ashley snorted. "They're not birds, please."

He shrugged, grinning. "I didn't name them."

"You named Valak, and it shows. I'd call him King."

"King?" Haco scrunched his nose up. "Kings are barbaric. Valak is kind."

"Not all Kings," she said, before frowning. "Okay, most of them I guess."

"You know nothing about Kings as yet," he replied softly, staring into the distance. "And I pray you never find out."

"Save them, because in a few days, you'll be sending me into one's Palace. There's no way I won't find out," she said sarcastically.

Haco lowered his gaze, guilt evident on his face. 

Ashley rolled her eyes. "Now don't look so sad, I'm still alive. Take me to the pond now. Has Migara sent her clothes as yet? How long did I even sleep?" she inquired. 

"You slept for a good couple of hours. And yes, I already laid your clothes out near the pond."

"Great. Let's go," she smiled, her eyes glittering with excitement. She was truly desperate for a bath, becoming extremely aware that she stank of mud and dog. She also woke up in a better mood than the one with which she had dozed off. The rest was much needed after everything she had been through. 

Haco walked around the cottage, and she followed him, only to realize that they were on slightly higher ground than the normal plains. A sloping path lead down to steaming water, and Ashley almost squealed at the sight. She pushed past him and hurried down, losing her footing on the way and tumbling ungracefully into the water. Haco's eyes widened and he rushed down to help her, but she emerged onto the surface, laughing, and drenched. He relaxed, the ghost of a smile appearing on his face as he stood at the bank of the pond. 

"This is amazing!" she giggled, moving her wet brown hair away from her face. She floated onto the surface, closing her eyes shut as her pink gown flared around her. "Ah..." she sighed, feeling the warmth seep into her bones and cure all her pains and aches.

"You should take that off," Haco suggested, and her eyes shot open. She glanced at him with raised eyebrows, and his eyes widened in realization. "I don't mean in front of me!" he quickly clarified. "I'll go back to the cottage. What I mean is, you should get a good soak. The water has slight healing properties, so you'll feel a lot better."

Of course. No wonder it feels so good, Ashley thought. "Okay. Thanks for this." She offered him a smile.

"Uh, no problem," he muttered awkwardly. "Your, um, clothes... they're laid out on that stone ledge." He pointed to it.

Ashley glanced at it, giving him a thumbs up, before waving him off dismissively.

"Great, I'll--uh, take my leave." He turned on his heel and hurried up, his cheeks blazing for some reason. 

Ashley stared at his ass, tilting her head slightly. Stupid magician. Why does he get such a nice butt? she envied.

She rolled her eyes, before realizing what she had to do. She gladly shrugged off the gown, and swam to the bank, rolling it into a ball and laying it a safe distance away from the water. She sighed deeply, gently rubbing her entire body clean, followed by her hair. She cringed at the thought of washing her hair in a pond, without her shampoo or conditioner that she had so carefully selected. The tangles in her hair were going to be unimaginable. Maybe he knows some voodoo to fix that too, she wondered. She would be sure to ask him. 

Once she was done bathing, and her body felt refreshed and energized, she swam back to the bank and crawled out. She cursed in annoyance, washing her hands and knees again as she got dirt onto them in the process. She then walked over to the stone ledge, and grinned down at her clothes. An off-white conves, maroon jacket made out of a thick, yet light material, a leather skirt and a pair of knee-high boots. The perfect badass outfit she had dreamed of. 

She quickly put them on, proud that they fit almost perfectly. There were strings on the back of her jacket that she couldn't reach, but once they would be secured, she knew that the clothes would hug her like a glove. The boots complimented her long legs, and they were far more comfortable than she had expected them to be. Of course they are. They belong to a warrior, and a warrior needs their shoes to not constantly dig into their skin and give them shoe bites. 

She walked over to the pink gown, and picked it up, carrying it to the ledge. She laid it out on it to dry, before making her way back up the sloping path, careful not to fall this time. She was about to walk around to the front of the cottage, when her gaze fell upon a pathway through the trees on the side. For a moment there, she contemplated running off. But Haco's warnings about getting killed by other casters, lycans, and dracones all rang in her ears, and she dismissed the thought. She circled around the cottage, and found Haco playing with Valak, the way humans played with their pet dogs. She found herself smiling, as warmth spread in her chest. A huge grin played on Haco's lips as he moved side to side, dodging Valak's attacks and laughing. He caught her eye a moment later, and froze, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise. Ashley felt her heart race slightly, as she held his gaze, unable to look away. She felt a strange pull towards him, just like the one she had felt towards the Transporter back in the alley.

However it was gone as soon as Valak tackled Haco to the floor, licking his face and his hands. Haco laughed, pushing Valak's face away before he stood up. He jogged up to her, and she returned his smile.

"You look great," he complimented, giving her a quick once over.

"Thanks," she replied awkwardly, biting her lip. Do I ask him? Would that be weird? 

She didn't have to.

"Your jacket isn't tied," Haco pointed out, his eyebrows furrowing slightly. "May I?" he offered.

Ashley nodded, turning around for him. He stepped closer to her, and she pursed her lips, his strong presence behind her making her heart flutter in her chest. His fingers gently traced over the back of her neck and her shoulder, giving rise to goosebumps on her skin, as he moved her hair away. The air felt electric as he stepped even closer, his warm breath tickling her nape, sending a shudder through her body. She felt him roughly tug at the strings of her jacket as he tied each one of them, her chest heaving up and down in anticipation. Once he was done, he caught hold of her hair again, pulling them back, his fingers once more brushing against her shoulder blade. She turned to face him, a part of her regretting it instantly when she found him standing too close. Another, crazier part of her, felt a spark of excitement, as her gaze involuntarily dropped to his plump lips. She gulped, wanting to step back, but unable to. It was as if she were rooted to the spot, and she genuinely suspected him of having cast a spell on her.

"Ashley," Haco whispered, his gaze burning into hers, his bright blue eyes darker than she remembered. She noticed he was as agitated as herself, his chest heaving up and down, his hand fidgeting with the hilt of his sword tucked safely in his belt. He closed the space between them, his front touching hers, as his eyes flickered to her lips momentarily. His hand travelled to her face and he gently caressed her cheek with his thumb. She let out a quivering breath, and closed her eyes, as he began to slowly lean in.

- - - - - -